Brake welcomes lower EU road injury targets

European Union transport ministers have formally agreed today to set a target of halving the number of serious injuries on roads in the EU by 2030 from their 2020 level. This is in addition to the existing target to halve the number of road deaths on EU roads by 2020 from the 2010 baseline [1].

Responding to the news, Mary Williams, CEO for Brake, the road safety charity, said: "We warmly welcome today's EU announcement, which will help focus efforts across Europe to reduce needless road deaths and injuries. Targets are essential. They focus governments' minds on the crisis, and the need for urgent steps to be taken by them to save lives. All governments should focus on measures that drive towards zero casualties through a safe systems approach. We particularly call for measures that protect pedestrians and cyclists, such as segregated road space, 20mph (30km/h) limits and vehicle design improvements, such as intelligent speed assistance (which restricts the speed of vehicles below limits) and advanced automated emergency braking systems (currently under consideration by the EU).

"It's a disgrace that there are currently no UK targets for casualty reduction. Brake applauds Highways England for setting its own target of a 40% reduction in the numbers of people killed and seriously injured on the Strategic Road Network. We are calling for a UK target to be set as an urgent priority for the incoming government."

The Sustainable Development Goals call for the number of deaths and injuries from road crashes to be halved by 2020 worldwide.

About Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Follow us

Professionals

Every 30 seconds someone, somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. Brake works to stop road deaths and injuries by campaigning for safer roads; supports people bereaved or injured in road crashes; and raises public awareness for sustainable transport. Registered charity No. 1093244